“Accident! Just such an accident as folks hev as shoves a burning candle in a corn stack. Just you two slither out yonder straight away, and see if you can see anyone.”
“But there can’t be anyone,” said Dick, looking in the direction indicated.
“Ice wouldn’t bear, and they couldn’t come in a punt.”
“Nay, they coom i’ pattens,” said Dave sharply. “I joost caught a blink of ’em as they went off, and I let ’em hev the whole charge o’ my goon.”
“A bullet?” said Tom huskily.
“Nay, lad; swan-shot. I’d been out after the wild-geese at the end of the bit o’ reed-bed here, when I see a light wheer there couldn’t be no light, and I roon back and see what they’d done, and let fly at ’em.”
“And hit them, Dave?” said Dick.
“Nay, lad, I can’t say. I fired and I heered a squeal. Ice wouldn’t bear for me to go and see.”
“Come along, Tom,” cried Dick; and they skated away once more, to curve here and there in all directions, till a hail from the island took them back.
“Can’t you find ’em?”